Defence Minister Marise Payne has said Australia will not be changing its role in Afghanistan after the US president outlined his new military strategy, including a possible troop increase.
"At this point in time, our engagement is in training," Defence Minister Marise Payne told reporters in Singapore.
"There is no contemplation of a change in that, in this point of time."
But she indicated the Australian government would be open to sending more soldiers to Afghanistan.
"We will speak with our US colleagues and see what their expectations are," Minister Payne said.
"We would always engage any consideration of any request on its merits and in the interest of Australia."
Her comments follow the US President Donald Trump's announcement that his country's approach to Afghanistan would change.
"We are not nation-building again. We are killing terrorists," President Trump said.
The US president didn't give a timeline or specifics about the expected troop surge, although it's believed it will involve about 4,000 extra troops.
"I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will," Mr Trump said.
The president's comments mark a reversal from his election campaign position to end America's longest war which has already seen 1,833 US troops killed in action.
However, Australian opposition leader Bill Shorten earlier said any request for additional troops should be met with caution.
“I'm not about to give a blank cheque to President Trump, but let's be very clear here: I and Labor are very supportive of what our 300 plus ADF personnel are doing in Afghanistan,” Mr Shorten told reporters in the regional Queensland town of Mackay.
“This is the sort of issue where I would expect the government to brief us and we'll just work through this in a calm and considered matter.”
There are approximately 300 Australian troops in Afghanistan as part of Operation Highroad, including elite Australian special forces soldiers.
Operation Highroad aims to support the train, advise and assist mission of NATO as it tries to build capability and increase security in Afghanistan.
Australia’s combat operations in Afghanistan ended in 2014 and resulted in the deaths of 41 soldiers and more than 250 wounded.
Hostilities will continue: ANU expert
The government should anticipate a call for more troops, according to Professor John Blaxland of the ANU’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre.
But he told SBS World News that decision needed to be tapered with Australia’s responsibilities in the Asia Pacific region, especially the rise of Islamic militants in the Philippines.
“We need to be careful about sending a message to the United States that, while we’re not walking away, we have other priorities [in Asia] that are also congruent with American interests,” he said.
“We now have a world where south-east Asia is far more troubled, where Australia needs to focus more of its energy on understanding and improving its relations with its immediate neighbours.”
Professor Blaxland said the Australian Defence Force was a “boutique” military and should be careful not to overextend itself
“The ADF can do a number of things but it can only do a few of them at the same time well," he said.
President Trump’s decision not to announce a withdrawal date was pragmatic, Professor Blaxland said,
“Declaring ahead of time that you’re planning to leave effectively negates the purpose of the surge you might be contemplating,” he said.
“Hostilities will continue and we may yet see many more Americans die, let alone Coalition troops including, potentially, Australians.”
